Bag holder

ABSTRACT

A bag holder including a frame in part comprised of pivotally interconnected leg members of inverted U-shape. Closed ends of the leg members are uppermost and provide supports from which a bag is suspended in an open-mouthed upright position. Relative approaching and separating movements of the closed ends of the leg members collapse and open the frame. Collapsing and opening movements are used, in conjunction with an over-center spring device, to apply a yielding pressure holding the frame in a collapsed or open position to which it is set. The spring device provides a force which in response to a frame opening movement tends to lock the bag to the frame to make it in effect an integral part of the frame.

United States Patent 1191 Gilbert BAG HOLDER [75} Inventor: Robert B.Gilbert, New Lebanon,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: TDC Inc., Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1973 [21]Appl. No.: 415,968

[58] Field of Search 248/97, 98, 101, 150, 164, 248/96, 166, 188.6;108/118, 119, 120;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 639,292 12/1899 Rippon eta1. 248/97 1,217,772 2/1917 Kade 108/120 2,269,257 1/1942 Edwards 248/972,288,737 7/1942 Page 108/120 2,434,800 1/1948 Hollander 248/1502,459,970 1/1949 Smith 248/101 2,845,317 7/1958 Orman 248/164 3,374,9763/1968 Kurlander et a1...v 248/97 3,502,291 3/1970 Ackerman et a].248/97 1451 July 8,1975

3,556,076 1/1971 Stewart 108/119 X 3,659,816 5/1972 Wilson 248/97FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 506,369 8/1920 France 108/118 340,9011/1931 United Kingdom 108/120 Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr.Assistant Examiner-Rodney H. Bonck Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jerome P.Bloom [57] ABSTRACT A bag holder including a frame in part comprised ofpivotally interconnected leg members of inverted U- shape. Closed endsof the leg members are uppermost and provide supports from which a bagis suspended in an open-mouthed upright position. Relative approachingand separating movements of the closed ends of the leg members collapseand open the frame. Collapsing and opening movements are used, inconjunction with an over-center spring device, to apply a yieldingpressure holding the frame in a collapsed or open position to which itis set. The spring device provides a force which in response to a frameopening movement tends to lock the bag to the frame to make it in effectan integral part of the frame.

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BAG HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to bag holders and more particularly to collapsibleframe devices useful in positioning a plastic or like flexible bag forfilling. Plastic and like bags, such as used to hold trash, lawnsweepings and the like are not self supporting and hence when beingfilled are held by hand or mounted as a liner in a rigid container. Theformer recourse is highly unsatisfactory as becomes quickly obvious toanyone attempting to hold a bag by hand while filling it with grassclippings and leaves. Moreover this method is inapplicable to use of abag as a semi-permanently set-up receptacle, as for household use, atcamp grounds and the like. Mounting a bag as a liner in a rigidcontainer reduces holding problems but adds to handling difficulties andthe composite results in increased weight and decreased portability,which is highly disadvantageous for temporary installations. Moreover,no mounting or suspending technique heretofore known has effectivelyintegrated a bag with its container so that slipping, shifting ordislodging of the bag will not and cannot occur. The foregoing haslimited the benefits of the versatile and increasingly popular plasticbag now available for use in trash disposal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a simple,lightweight and inexpensive holder for bags, having particular thoughnot limited reference to expendable plastic and paper bags. The holderincludes a frame comprised in the main of a pair of inverted U-shapedmembers, the legs of which are crossed and pivotally interconnected atopposite ends of the frame so that the frame can adjust between open andcollapsed positions while retaining a connected relation of its parts.The closed ends of the legs position uppermost and act as elevatedsupports over which the peripheral mouth portion of a flexible bag isfolded and placed under tension. The bag becomes suspended thereby in anopenmouthed upright position.

Pivots forming the connections between the crossed legs areintermediately located and transversely aligned. In a preferredembodiment of the invention an arm positioned to one side of the frameis secured to one crossed leg to extend toward the other at a locationspaced below the level of the pivot connections between the legs.Abutment means provided on this arm limit relatively approaching andseparating movements of the legs and so define the fully open andcollapsed conditions of the frame. A tension spring anchored at one endto the arm in a laterally offset relation to the leg to which the arm issecured extends upwardly through and beyond the plane of the describedpivot connections to attach at its other end to the other crossed leg.The arrangement is one to create an overcenter spring device whereinadjustment of the frame between its opened and closed positions shiftsthe spring from side to side of a center position as represented by thedescribed pivot connections. The frame is, as a result, yieldingly urgedto maintain either adjusted position to which it may be set. In thepresence of an installed bag, suspended from the elevated leg supportportions, opening motion of the frame utilizes the applied springpressure to grip the bag, effectively locking it to the frame. Bag andframe become an integrated assembly readily handled and moved about as aunit. The frame may, in this connection, be made of lightweight tubularmetal or the like. Wheels or casters may be mounted to its legs at theirlower ends.

The spring anchoring arm has, as noted, abutment means thereon definingfully open and collapsed positions of the holder frame. In accordancewith a feature of this aspect of the invention, closing movement of theframe is limited so that even in a collapsed position the frame may beleft in a free standing, stable position.

To mention some, but not all, uses of the bag and holder assembly it canserve, for example, as an indoor or outdoor trash container, or as alaundry basket. It lends itself to use as a collection point to whichhousehold trash containers can be brought for emptying. Its portabilityand ease of erection makes it particularly useful as a trash receptacleto be brought to picnics, camp grounds or the like, and, of course, ithas obvious advantages in the collecting and bagging of grass clippingsand other lawn debris.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive bagholder lending itself, in conjunction with a held bag, as a receptacleof general utility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag holder collapsiblefor easy storage and portability.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bag holder in whichintegrated spring means yieldingly maintains the holder in setpositions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bag holder inwhich spring pressure applied to establish the holder in open positionis utilized, in the presence of an installed bag, to effectively lockthe bag to the holder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bag holdercontrolled in its adjustment to open and collapsed positions, the holderin a collapsed position retaining a free standing capability.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected byLetters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts andcombinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter describedor illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein is shown one butobviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a bag holder in accordance with theillustrated embodiment of the invention, the holder being shown in anopen position, the presence in connection therewith of a held bag beingindicated in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation of the bag holder of FIG. 1, shownadjusted to a collapsed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the holder in end elevation showing theparts in an intermediate or neutral position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the control arm utilized in thepreferred embodiment of the invention here illustrated; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of thestructure of FIG. 4 in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a bag holder in accordance with theillustrated embodiment of the invention consists principally of a frame10 comprised in part of crossed leg members 11 and 12. The leg members11 and 12 are substantially identical in construction. Each has aU-shaped configuration and may be made of any suitable material,preferably one having a good strength to weight ratio. as for example alightweight tubular metal. The leg member 11 accordingly is composed ofparallel legs 13 and I4 united at their one ends by a bridging orjoining portion 15. Leg member 12 similarly is composed of parallel legs16 and 17 joined at their one ends by a bridging portion 18.

In a normal attitude, the leg members 11 and 12 dispose with bridgingportions 15 and 18 uppermost so that they are effectively inverted. Theparallel legs of the respective inverted U-shape members are. moreover,in a crossing relation so that in end elevation the frame assumes aX-like configuration. Where adjacent legs 13 and 16 intersect oneanother they are pivotally interconnected by a pin 19 installed inaligning leg openings (not shown). Where legs 14 and 17 intersect oneanother they are pivotally interconnected by a pin 21 installed in thesame manner as pin 19. The leg members 11 and 12 are thus connected toform a unitary assembly and at the same time are capable of relativerocking movements effecting relative approaching and separatingmovements of opposite ends of the leg members. As will hereinafter moreclearly appear, the frame is essentially adjustable between an openposition as shown in FIG. 1, wherein uppermost positions 15 and 18 arewidely separated from one another and a collapsed position as shown inFIG. 2 wherein the bridging portions are in a more nearly adjacentposition. Lower ends of the leg members are in an open position of theframe relatively widely separated and provide a stable, free standingmount of the frame or bag holder on the ground or other supportingsurface. In a collapsed position, the lower ends of the leg members arebrought to a closer but still spaced relation to maintain a freestanding capability.

The following description is referenced to the parts in an open positionof the frame as seen in FIG. 1. The pivot pins 19 and 21 are in pivotlocations occupying a common plane substantially below and generallyparallel to the horizontal plane occupied by bridging leg portions 15and 18. Disposing beyond or below such described pivot location is anarm 22 orienting substantially horizontally or parallel to thehorizontal plane occupied by the bridging portions 15 and 18. At its oneend. as shown in FIG. 4, the arm 22 is curved for a mating engagementwith leg 13 of member 11 and is secured thereto, as by rivet means 23.From its place of attachment to leg 13, the arm 22 extends towardcrossing leg 16 of leg member 12 and terminates in an inwardly turnedtab 24 located at this point beyond and in an embracing abuttingrelation to leg 16. Intermediate its ends. the arm 22 is offset to forman inwardly positioning shoulder 25.

With reference to the boundaries of the frame, tab 24 and shoulder 25are on an inner side of the arm 22, in a longitudinally spaced,substantially parallel relation to one another. Together they achieve aconfining relation to leg 16, limiting its motion, and, in the process,defining open and collapsed positions of the holder frame.

About midway between its ends, on an outwardly fac ing side, the arm 22is formed with a projecting tongue 26 which may be outstruck from thematerial of the arm. Tongue 26 serves as an anchor for one end of atension spring 27 attaching at its other end to a tongue 28 outstruckfrom the material of leg 16. More particu larly, the spring 27terminates in a ring 29 hooked over tongue 26 and terminates at itsother end in a ring 31 hooked over the tongue 28. Lower anchor tongue 26positions between the legs 13 and 16, in the open position of the frame,at a level below the pivot pin 19. Another tongue 28 positions abovepivot pin 19 and to the same side thereof at which arm 22 is fixed toleg 13. When attached to its opposite anchor locations. the spring 27 isstressed and attempts continuously to re store itself to a shorterlength. unstressed condition. exerting in the process a pulling effortat anchor locations 26 and 28. It will be evident that the spring deviceas illustrated and described is an over-center device capable of beingshifted from side to side of the pivot pin 19. and, in so doing, tochange the effective pressure applied within the frame 10. Thus, spring27 effectively connects the leg members 11 and I2, and, in the positionof the parts as shown in FIG. I, applies a yielding force tending toseparate the legs. or more particularly bridging portions 15 and 18. Inthe event, however. of bridging portions 15 and 18 being forced manuallyinto a relatively approaching motion. the spring anchors 26 and 28 arecarried laterally relative to pivot location 19, causing the spring 27to move to a neutral position as shown in FIG. 3 and then through andbeyond neutral position to a position in which the spring is displacedto the other side of the pivot location or to the left side thereof asviewed in the drawings. When this occurs the effective pressure appliedby the spring within the frame is reversed and is accordingly nowdirected in a manner to urge a relative approaching mo tion of thebridging portions 15 and 18, moving the parts toward a collapsedposition substantially as shown in FIG. 2. The parts can if desired beallowed to remain in the neutral position of FIG. 3, which may bedefined as a position in which spring 27 imparts no rotational torque toeither leg member and is established by virtue of a co-linearrelationship between the spring anchors 26 and 28 and pivot pin 19.

In the use of the bag support, the frame is placed in a collapsedposition as shown in FIG. 2 or in a neutral position as shown in FIG. 3.A plastic or like bag 32 is then inserted between the leg members andallowed to assume a generally upright position within the frame with itsclosed end down and its mouth opening upwardly. Peripheral edges of themouth then are folded over the bridging portions 15 and 18 of the legmembers to form an overlap 33. The leg members are then moved towardopen position, against the urging of spring 27, until the shiftingmovement of the spring carries it bodily to and through the pivotlocation of pin 19. At this moment, the direction of effective appliedpressure is reversed and the spring 27 becomes operative to urge aseparating motion of the bridging portions 15 and 18, that is, to urge amovement of the frame toward open position. This movement continuesuntil limited by resistance of the bag itself or until positivelystopped by engagement of the bent over portion 24 of arm 22 with leg 16.According to a feature of the invention, the parts are so constructedand arranged in or inection with standard bag sizes that the bridgingtions 15 and 18 will encounter and become subject to tire resistance ofthe bag immediately prior to the point at which abutment portion 24engages arm 16. Spring pressure accordingly is applied in a manner togrip the bag to the upper portions of leg members 11 and 12, making thebag in effect an integral part of the frame. The spring alone will exertan initial pressure sufficient to lock the bag securely in position. Inthe case of a plastic bag, the locking effect is accentuated due toinherent stretch of the bag material. As weight is added to the bag, thedownward force imparted through the bag to the upper portions of the legmembers causes an increased locking force proportional to the amount ofweight in the bag. The positive limit enforced by the abutment means 24obviates excessive stretch in the bag and assures that the holder willalways occupy a stable upright position substantially as shown in FIG,I.

By virtue of the structure provided, the frame will not collapse, evenif adjusted to an open position, with no bag in place.

In the removal of a filled bag, upper portions of the leg members arepushed in a relative approaching sense until the gripping pressureapplied to the peripheral mouth portion of the bag is released,whereupon the bag may be conveniently separated from the holder.

Once the bag is removed and such approaching motion is continued untilspring member 27 moves through and beyond its neutral position, theapplied spring pressure is reversed in direction and the frame urgedyieldingly to a collapsed condition. This motion of the parts in thesense is allowed to continue until the leg 16 engages and is limited asto its movement by abutment with the shoulder 25 on arm 22. Therespective shoulders 24 and 25 may be regarded as defining and enforcingthe limits of the fully open and fully collapsed conditions of theframe. In its fully collapsed condition, as shown in FIG. 2, the legmembers retain a separation at their lower ends sufficient, if desired,for the frame to stand freely in a self supporting man ner. The frame isat all times, therefore, in proper condition for the installation ofabag and need not itself be held or supported while the bag is put inplace.

In a collapsed position, the bag holder is adapted for ready storage andto be carried or otherwise trans ported to a selected place for use. Theaddition of casters or wheels to the leg members 11 and 12, at theirlower ends, will impart mobility to the holder. A tube or box for thestorage of expendable bags can be mounted anywhere on the frame.

As seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a flat, cap-like, lid 34 can beapplied to bridge and cover the open mouth of an installed bag byplacing it to overlie support portions represented by the frame portions15 and 18. The lid 34 embodies, adjacent one side at the interiorthereof, a pair of longitudinally spaced flexible brackets 35. Thebrackets 35 have arcuate generally C- shaped recesses opening downwardlyto provide slightly curved dependent legs which flexibly accommodate andclamp about the frame portion 15 of the member 11 to contain thereto theoverlapped portion of the bag 32. The configuration of the brackets 35thus provided is such they have a snap mount and the recesses providedthereby afford a loose pivot of the lid enabling it to be readily movedto bridge the open mouth of the bag and to depend over and about frameportion 18 or be moved upwardly therefrom. It will be obvious of coursethat the lid may simply be a cap which can be disposed over the openmouth of the bag to be supported by the frame portions 15 and 18therebelow.

FIG. 5 of the drawings shows a modification of the structure of FIGS. 1through 4 where the only change is that the arm 22 is replaced by a pairof arm elements 40 and 42 which in the open position of the bag holderframe will similarly dispose. In such position the arm element 40, whichis a flat plate-likc element fixed at one end to the leg 16, willhorizontally project in the direction of the leg 13, at a level belowthe pivot I9. At its projected extremity the arm element 40 includes, atits upper edge, a right angled outwardly directed tab constituting alimit or stop member 4]. In the open position of the frame the armelement 42, which is fixed at one end to the leg 13, also projectshorizontally, on the same level with and in the direction of the leg 16.The arm 42 has a plate-like form but is offset interme diate its ends toform a shoulder 45 ofa like nature and facing similarly to the shoulder25 in the arm 22. The projected end portion 46 of the arm 42 beyond theshoulder 45 will lie in a plane outwardly of the arm 40 but within thelimits of the stop member 4]. The arm portion 46 is formed to provide arectangular recess in its upper edge to define a right angled, upwardlydi' rected, hook element 47 at its projected extremity, which bookelement in the open position of the frame, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 ofthe drawings, intcrengages with the stop member 41 on the arm element40. The arm element 42 embodies an outstruck portion defining a tongue26' identical with and serving the same purpose as tongue 26 on the arm22.

It will be seen from FIG. 5 of the drawings that with the framestructure of the invention in its open bag supporting position that thearm elements 40 and 42 will occupy positions wherein one forms anextension of the other so as to interrelate and function as does the arm22. In this position the hook extremity 47 of the arm 42 and the stopmember 4] of the arm element 40 are arranged to limit against each otherto prevent an overloading of the bag 32 from collapsing the supportingframe work.

It will be seen that spring 27 will in this embodiment of the inventionbe anchored at its lower end to tongue 26' to position as in the firstdescribed embodiment of the invention and in a location spaced similarlyfrom the leg 13. The spring 27 will therefore function as firstdescribed in all respects, except that it will move in accordance withthe movements of the arm element 42.

Accordingly, it may be seen the only difference in the modification ofFIG. 5 is that the single arm 22 is replaced by a two-piece structure,the arm elements of which swing upwardly and in crossing relation as theframe is moved to a collapsed position. The arrangement of the arms 40and 42 and their configuration dictate that as the legs 13 and 16approach each other arm 40 passes above shoulder 45 on arm 42 while leg16 will move in a path to abut the shoulder 45 on arm 42 in the samemanner as previously described with respect to the abutment of leg 16with shoulder 25 on arm 22. This last will limit the approaching motionof the legs and insure that the frame can and will remain stable andupright, even in a so-called collapsed position. It will be furtherobvious that due to the fixed relation of the arm elements 40 and 42 andtheir relative configurations that they will move in adjacentcooperating relation as described throughout the approaching andseparating movements of the frame portions 11 and 12.

In referring to a collapsed condition or position of the bag holder, itwill be understood that reference is made to a condition wherein the legportions of the frame are brought more closely together to facilitatestorage or transport, as well as to facilitate application of a bag. Insuch collapsed condition, as represented in FIG. 2, the preferredembodiment of the invention contemplates a free standing capability ofthe holder.

Note should be particularly taken that in the preferred embodimentillustrated the leg members 11 and 12 can be made substantiallyidentical and connected to position in a nested, adjacent. offsetrelation rather than fitting one within the other. This is advantageousin the fitting of the bag 32 and enables that the stress on the bag inthe open position is more uniformly applied. Of course, the advantage ofa frame structure such as and for purposes as described is enhanced bythe unique controls and limitations afforded by the re lation of the arm22 or the cooperative arm elements 40 and 42 to the frame legs and thespring 27.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effectand the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A bag holding device including a frame to mount a bag-like element inan opened condition and in a selected attitude of suspension, said frameincluding leg portions having means defining a point of theirinterconnection for pivoting of one relative another and adjustmentthereof between open and collapsed positions, means for limiting saidleg portions in their movement toward an open position, and anover-center spring device attached at one end to one of said legportions and at the other end to said limiting means and shifting fromside to side of said point of interconnection in response to opening andcollapsing movements of said leg portions to apply alternatively ayielding pressure to hold said leg portions in an open position and ayielding pressure to hold said leg portions in a collapsed position.

2. A bag holding device according to claim 1, characterized by means onsaid limiting means limiting movement of said leg portions toward acollapsed position.

3. A bag holding device including a frame to mount a bag like element inan opened condition and in a selected attitude of suspension, said frameproviding pivotally interconnected leg portions adjustable between openand collapsed positions and including at least a pair of crossed legsinterconnected at a point interme diate their ends, and means forreleasably applying a pressure to make said frame and a mounted baglikeelement a unitized receptacle assembly, said means for releasablyapplying a pressure including an overcenter spring device, laterallyextending means on one of said legs providing a place of attachment foran end of said spring device with respect to said one leg, whichattachment is below the interconnection between said legs,

and another end of said spring device attaching to the other of saidlegs above said interconnection, said spring device being shiftablerelatively to said point of interconnection of said crossed legs toapply alternatively a yielding pressure to hold said leg portions in anopen position and a yielding pressure to hold said leg portions in acollapsed position.

4. A bag holding device according to claim 3 wherein said leg portionsmove in relative approaching and separating motions in an adjustment ofsaid frame to respective collapsed and open positions, and means providethat a predetermined extent of said approaching and separating motionsshift said spring device from side to side of said intermediate point.

5. A bag holding device according to claim 4 wherein said laterallyextending means is an arm extending from said one leg toward the otherand characterized by means on said arm limiting relative approaching andseparating motions of said leg portions.

6. A bag holding device according to claim 5 wherein said pivotallyinterconnected leg portions are comprised of leg members each of whichhave spaced apart legs interconnected at upwardly, disposed endsthereof, and corresponding legs of said members being pivotallyinterconnected to one another to enable correspondingly upwardly,disposed ends to move in relative approaching and separating motions,said leg members forming said frame with pivotal connections beingestablished at opposite ends of the frame, said arm extending inbridging relation to corresponding legs at one end of said frame.

7. A bag holding device according to claim 6 wherein said leg memberseach have an inverted U-shape, closed ends thereof being uppermost andforming elevated supports over which a peripheral mouth portion of a bagmay be folded for suspension of the bag within said frame, said springdevice being arranged in one set position of adjustment to apply apressure to spread said supports apart to thereby grip the peripheralmouth portion of said bag and maintain the same open.

8. A bag holding device according to claim 5 wherein said motionlimiting means on said arm cooperates with said legs to insure a freestanding, stable position of the frame in either an open or collapsedposition of the leg portions thereof.

9. A bag holding device including a frame to mount a bag-like element inan opened condition and in a selected attitude of suspension, said frameincluding pivotally interconnecting leg portions adjustable between openand collapsed positions, and means for releasably applying a pressure tomake said frame and a mounted bag-like element a unitized receptacleassembly, said means for releasably applying a pressure including springmeans shiftable to apply a yielding pressure to hold said leg portionsselectively in an open position or a collapsed position when so placed,laterally extending means connected with at least one of said legportions providing a place of attachment for a portion of said springmeans which is below the level of the interconnection between said legportions, another of said leg portions providing an attachment foranother portion of said spring means at a location which is above thelevel of said interconnection.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said laterally extending meansbridge a pair of pivotally interconnected legs of said frame to besubstantially horizontally disposed when said leg portions are in theopen position.

11. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said laterally extending meanscomprises an arm element fixed to one of said legs to extend therefromto the other of said pair of legs.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11 characterized by said arm element having aconfiguration and arrangement to provide thereon longitudinally spacedstops intermediately of which the other of said pair of pivotallyinterconnected legs may move from an open to a collapsed position.

13. Apparatus as in claim 11 characterized by said arm element having aplate-like form offset intermediate its extremities to provide one stopelement and means projected laterally thereof adjacent its projectedextremity to provide another stop portion, said stop portionsdetermining the limits of movement of said leg portions.

14. Apparatus as in claim 13 characterized by the place of attachmentfor the first said portion of said spring means being provided by meansin connection with said arm element intermediate said stop portions.

15. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said laterally extending meansincludes two arm elements respectively connected at their remoteextremities to an adjacent pivotally interconnected pair of legs of saidframe, said arm elements having interrelated portions providing stopslimiting the approaching and separating motions of said leg portions.

16. Apparatus as in claim 15 characterized by each of said arm elementshaving hook-like projected extremities which interrelate to define alimit for a separating of the pivotally interconnected legs and one ofsaid arm elements having an offset providing a stop for limiting theapproaching movement of the other of said arm elements.

i 1F i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO.1 3, 3,54

DATED July 8, 1975 |NVENTOR(S) Robert B. Gilbert It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 59, "opened" is corrected to read open Col. 3, line 27,"positions" is corrected to read portions Col. 4, line 7, "other" iscorrected to read chor Col. 5, line 27,"the"(second occurrence) iscorrected to read this Signed and Scaled this twenty-first Day OfOctober 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner uj'larenlsand Trademarks

1. A bag holding device including a frame to mount a bag-like element inan opened condition and in a selected attitude of suspension, said frameincluding leg portions having means defining a point of theirinterconnection for pivoting of one relative another and adjustmentthereof between open and collapsed positions, means for limiting saidleg portions in their movement toward an open position, and anover-center spring device attached at one end to one of said legportions and at the other end to said limiting means and shifting fromside to side of said point of interconnection in response to opening andcollapsing movements of said leg portions to apply alternatively ayielding pressure to hold said leg portions in an open position and ayielding pressure to hold said leg portions in a collapsed position. 2.A bag holding device according to claim 1, characterized by means onsaid limiting means limiting movement of said leg portions toward acollapsed position.
 3. A bag holding device including a frame to mount abag-like element in an opened condition and in a selected attitude ofsuspension, said frame providing pivotally interconnected leg portionsadjustable between open and collapsed positions and including at least apair of crossed legs interconnected at a point intermediate their ends,and means for releasably applying a pressure to make said frame and amounted bag-like element a unitized receptacle assembly, said means forreleasably applying a pressure including an overcenter spring device,laterally extending means on one of said legs providing a place ofattachment for an end of said spring device with respect to said oneleg, which attachment is below the interconnection between said legs,and another end of said spring device attaching to the other of saidlegs above said interconnection, said spring device being shiftablerelatively to said point of interconnection of said crossed legs toapply alternatively a yielding pressure to hold said leg portions in anopen position and a yielding pressure to hold said leg portions in acollapsed position.
 4. A bag holding device according to claim 3 whereinsaid leg portions move in relative approaching and separating motions inan adjustment of said frame to respective collapsed and open positions,and means provide that a predetermined extent of said approaching andseparating motions shift said spring device from side to side of saidintermediate point.
 5. A bag holding device according to claim 4 whereinsaid laterally extending means is an arm extending from said one legtoward the other and characterized by means on said arm limitingrelative approaching and separating motions of said leg portions.
 6. Abag holding device according to claim 5 wherein said pivotallyinterconnected leg portions are comprised of leg members each of whichhave spaced apart legs interconnected at upwardly, disposed endsthereof, and corresponding legs of said members being pivotallyinterconnected to one another to enable correspondingly upwardly,disposed ends to move in relative approaching and separating motions,said leg members forming said frame with pivotal connections beingestablished at opposite ends of the frame, said arm extending inbridging relation to corresponding legs at one end of said frame.
 7. Abag holding device according to claim 6 wherein said leg members eachhave an inverted U-shape, closed ends thereof being uppermost andforming elevated supports over which a peripheral mouth portion of a bagmay be folded for suspension of the bag within said frame, said springdevice being arranged in one set position of adjustment to apply apressure to spread said suppOrts apart to thereby grip the peripheralmouth portion of said bag and maintain the same open.
 8. A bag holdingdevice according to claim 5 wherein said motion limiting means on saidarm cooperates with said legs to insure a free standing, stable positionof the frame in either an open or collapsed position of the leg portionsthereof.
 9. A bag holding device including a frame to mount a bag-likeelement in an opened condition and in a selected attitude of suspension,said frame including pivotally interconnecting leg portions adjustablebetween open and collapsed positions, and means for releasably applyinga pressure to make said frame and a mounted bag-like element a unitizedreceptacle assembly, said means for releasably applying a pressureincluding spring means shiftable to apply a yielding pressure to holdsaid leg portions selectively in an open position or a collapsedposition when so placed, laterally extending means connected with atleast one of said leg portions providing a place of attachment for aportion of said spring means which is below the level of theinterconnection between said leg portions, another of said leg portionsproviding an attachment for another portion of said spring means at alocation which is above the level of said interconnection.
 10. Apparatusas in claim 9 wherein said laterally extending means bridge a pair ofpivotally interconnected legs of said frame to be substantiallyhorizontally disposed when said leg portions are in the open position.11. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said laterally extending meanscomprises an arm element fixed to one of said legs to extend therefromto the other of said pair of legs.
 12. Apparatus as in claim 11characterized by said arm element having a configuration and arrangementto provide thereon longitudinally spaced stops intermediately of whichthe other of said pair of pivotally interconnected legs may move from anopen to a collapsed position.
 13. Apparatus as in claim 11 characterizedby said arm element having a plate-like form offset intermediate itsextremities to provide one stop element and means projected laterallythereof adjacent its projected extremity to provide another stopportion, said stop portions determining the limits of movement of saidleg portions.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 13 characterized by the place ofattachment for the first said portion of said spring means beingprovided by means in connection with said arm element intermediate saidstop portions.
 15. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said laterallyextending means includes two arm elements respectively connected attheir remote extremities to an adjacent pivotally interconnected pair oflegs of said frame, said arm elements having interrelated portionsproviding stops limiting the approaching and separating motions of saidleg portions.
 16. Apparatus as in claim 15 characterized by each of saidarm elements having hook-like projected extremities which interrelate todefine a limit for a separating of the pivotally interconnected legs andone of said arm elements having an offset providing a stop for limitingthe approaching movement of the other of said arm elements.